NFL looks back at Week 12

Taking a look back at the just-concluded 12th week of the 2013 regular season.

Glen Farley

Taking a look back through the NFL's eyes:

FOR USE AS DESIRED

November 26, 2013

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THE WEEK THAT WAS – WEEK 12

KEEPING IT CLOSE: Through Week 12, there have been 86 games decided by seven points or fewer, tied for the third-most through the first 12 weeks of a season in NFL history. There have been 93 games decided by eight points or fewer, tied for the fourth-most during that span.

The most games decided by seven points and eight points or fewer through Week 12:

MOST GAMES DECIDED BY

SEVEN POINTS OR FEWER

MOST GAMES DECIDED BY

EIGHT POINTS OR FEWER

SEASON

THROUGH WEEK 12

SEASON

THROUGH WEEK 12

2011

89

2012

95

2003

89

2011

94

2013

86

2003

94

2012

86

2013

93

1988

86

2002

93

-- NFL --

PO(INT) OF RETURN: Teams have combined to score 48 interception-return touchdowns through Week 12, the second-most INT-TD returns through 12 weeks since 1970 (50 in 2012).

Manning (36) leads the NFL in TD passes and registered his third season with at least 35 passing TDs, tying TOM BRADY and BRETT FAVRE for the most such seasons in NFL history.

The players with the most seasons with at least 35 touchdown passes in NFL history:

PLAYER

TEAM(S)

SEASONS WITH 35+ TD PASSES

Peyton Manning*

Indianapolis, Denver

3

Brett Favre

Green Bay

3

Tom Brady*

New England

3

Many tied

2

*Active

-- NFL --

UNDRAFTED COWBOY: Dallas quarterback TONY ROMO threw for 234 yards and two touchdowns in the Cowboys’ 24-21 win over the New York Giants. Romo (200), who was undrafted out of Eastern Illinois, became the fifth undrafted player in NFL history to reach 200 career touchdown passes (JIM HART, 209; DAVE KRIEG, 261; WARREN MOON, 291; KURT WARNER, 208)

-- NFL --

RUNNER’S WORLD: Minnesota running back ADRIAN PETERSON rushed for 146 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings’ 26-26 tie with Green Bay.

Peterson now has 10 rushing touchdowns this season and joined LA DAINIAN TOMLINSON (nine) and Pro Football Hall of Famer EMMITT SMITH (eight) as the only players in NFL history to rush for at least 10 touchdowns in seven different seasons.

The running backs with the most seasons with 10+ rushing TDs in NFL history:

PLAYER

TEAM(S)

SEASONS WITH 10+ RUSHING TDs

LaDainian Tomlinson

San Diego

9

Emmitt Smith^

Dallas

8

Adrian Peterson*

Minnesota

7

Marcus Allen^

Los Angeles Raiders, Kansas City

6

Barry Sanders^

Detroit

6

*Active

^Pro Football Hall of Famer

-- NFL --

OPEN THE GATES: San Diego tight end ANTONIO GATES had three catches for 21 yards in the Chargers’ 41-38 win over Kansas City.

Gates now has 701 receptions and 9,006 receiving yards in his career, joining TONY GONZALEZ of the Atlanta Falcons, JASON WITTEN of the Dallas Cowboys and Pro Football Hall of Famer SHANNON SHARPE as the only tight ends in NFL history with 700 receptions and 9,000 receiving yards.

The tight ends with 700 receptions and 9,000 receiving yards in NFL history: